FIFA: Player contracts to be extended to the conclusion of season

Fifa has recommended that player contracts due to expire on July 1 should be extended ‘until the 2019/20 can be concluded’, in a statement released today.

Football’s governing body have been notably silent on the issue of players whose current deals at their clubs are due to expire in concurrence with when the 2019/20 season was expected to be concluded.

But in a regulatory document published to their website, Fifa has approved the extension of player deals at their current clubs and, furthermore has said that new contracts which were due to commence for the conventional start of the 2020/21 season be delayed until when the season actually begins.

Fifa’s statement reads: “Expiring player contracts usually end when the season ends, with a termination date that coincides with the end of the season. With the current suspension of play in most countries, it is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would.

“Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end. This should be in line with the original intention of the parties when the contract was signed and should also preserve sporting integrity and stability.

“A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start.”

Fifa have also urged “clubs and players to work together to find agreements and solutions during the period when football is suspended.”

Fifa also discussed the transfer window structure, in which they state that they are willing to shift the current transfer window timings so that it occurs in the gap between the 19/20 and 20/21 season.

The statement added: “With regard to transfer windows, again, it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances.

“Accordingly, Fifa will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.”